JP2001156674A - Data carrier system and interrogator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data carrier system and an interrogator that can attain communications with high S/N even in a place of a great amount of noise such as a production line. SOLUTION: In the data carrier system consisting of an interrogator and a responder, a shield vessel 44 surrounds at least other sides than the communication surface 43 of the antenna 41 of the interrogator. In this case, clearances B, C between the antenna 41 and the shield vessel 44 are selected to be within a rang from 1/3 of a diameter A of the antenna 41 to the diameter A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data carrier system and an interrogation device for performing non-contact communication with a high signal-to-noise ratio between a response device and an interrogation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A data carrier system is a system for exchanging information (data) between a response device and an interrogation device in a non-contact manner. The application of this data carrier system is FA (Fa
ctoryAutomation) field, distribution field, security field, etc., and with the advent of the multimedia age, applications are expanding further.

[0003] With the expansion of this application, the arrangement of the response device,
Positions such as installation and attachment are various and various. At the time of communication between the answering device and the interrogation device, the interrogation device moves to the communicable area to the answering device, or, conversely, the answering device moves, or both move. It is moving to the communicable area and communicating.

[0004] In some applications, it is necessary to search for the location of the transponder that desires communication. In such a usage form, an electromagnetic induction method and a microwave method, which are used for transmitting and receiving information and have a relatively wide communication range, have been put to practical use.

[0005] On the other hand, in communication, it is required that information can be properly communicated without loss or deterioration of information. From this request, an appropriate size of the antenna, transmission power, and the like are determined. In addition, there are restrictions on frequency bands and transmissions due to legal regulations.

Further, when communication is required, it is required that they be located close to each other within a communicable area quickly and timely. Based on these, a response device is detected by one antenna from the interrogation device and communication is performed.

[0007]

There is an application in the FA (automated production line) field, for example, in a beer production factory line. That is, there is an application in which a response device is attached to a moving vial barrel on a conveyor belt, information on the barrel is transmitted and received in a non-contact manner, and quality control is performed.

That is, in order to communicate between a response device (data carrier) attached to a cylindrical object such as a vial barrel and an interrogation device and to read and write information, the following configuration is usually adopted. That is, since it is not possible to specify where the data carrier is on the circumference of the object, a large-diameter large-diameter antenna is provided in the interrogation device so that the entire via barrel is used as a communication area.

[0009] Since the communication with the responding device during traveling is performed, the electromagnetic induction system is selected. When implemented in a factory production line with such a configuration, there is a problem that strong noise from the outside (other equipment or the like) is mixed in and the signal-to-noise ratio is poor and cannot be put to practical use.

Further, with respect to a data carrier (response device) attached to an upper peripheral portion of a cylindrical object such as a vial barrel, information communication is performed at the peripheral portion of the large-diameter antenna. However, the energy induced from a large-diameter antenna is strongest at the center of the antenna, and becomes weaker as the distance increases and as the distance to the periphery increases.

Although the sensitivity is high when the antenna is large, external noise is well picked up and an insensitive area is generated at the center. As a result, the S / N ratio (signal-to-noise ratio) is poor, communication becomes unstable, and sometimes communication itself becomes impossible. In order to solve these problems, the present inventors have intensively developed and selected the aperture of the antenna to a size in consideration of the state of ambient noise. That is,
The diameter is reduced to a value that provides an appropriate signal-to-noise ratio (preset S / N ratio). Furthermore, in order to improve the S / N ratio and minimize the amount of noise reception as much as possible, it is necessary to shorten the distance between the antennas of the interrogator and the responder (short distance).

When the small-diameter antenna is used to communicate with a data carrier attached to a via barrel running at a short distance, the following new problem occurs.

That is, the operation of setting the traveling data carrier (response device) within the communication area of the small-diameter antenna is complicated, and the setting time becomes long. Furthermore, it is practically difficult to communicate with a data carrier while the production line is running (moving).

In communication by the electromagnetic induction method, microwave method, electromagnetic coupling method, or the like, data (information) to be communicated (transmitted) is susceptible to external noise having a frequency equal to or near the transmission (operation) frequency. There was an error, a short communication distance, and in some cases, no communication. Therefore, such conditions and use in that place,
It was difficult. That is, there has been a demand for improvement in communication reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a data carrier system and an interrogation device which enable communication having a good S / N ratio even in a place with much noise such as a production line.

Furthermore, in view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data carrier system and an interrogation device which are stable against noise of a frequency near a transmission frequency and which can perform reliable communication.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data carrier system which stores predetermined information, reads out specified information from the stored information, and transmits the read information. An interrogation device that transmits a request for necessary information among information stored in the response device via an antenna, and receives and stores information transmitted from the response device via the antenna, Means for shielding a surface other than the communication surface of at least one of the antennas of the interrogating device and the answering device.

According to the data carrier system of the present invention, for example, a response device that stores predetermined information, reads out and transmits designated information from the stored information, and stores the response information in the response device. An interrogator for transmitting, via an antenna, a request for necessary information out of the set information, and receiving and recording the information transmitted from the responder via the antenna; and at least one of the interrogator and the responder. And a shield made of a magnetic material provided so as to surround a surface other than the communication surface of the two antennas.

The data carrier system according to the present invention, as described in claim 3, for example, stores a predetermined information, reads out the specified information from the stored information, and transmits the same, and the response device Transmits a request for necessary information among the information stored in the
An interrogation device that receives and records information transmitted from the response device via the antenna, and a shield provided to surround a surface other than the communication surface of at least one of the antennas of the interrogation device and the response device. And the distance between the inner wall surface of the shield body and the outer periphery of the antenna is set to 1/3 of the diameter of the antenna coil from the length of the antenna coil diameter.

The data carrier system according to the present invention, as described in claim 4, for example, stores a predetermined information, reads out the specified information from the stored information and transmits the information in a contactless manner, An interrogation device that transmits a request for necessary information among the information stored in the response device via an antenna, and receives and stores the information transmitted from the response device via the antenna, A shield container in which the antenna and the response device are accommodated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the data carrier system according to the fifth aspect, for example, in the data carrier system according to the fourth aspect, the shield container is formed of a tunnel-shaped shield container.

According to the present invention, for example, the interrogation device transmits a request for necessary information among information stored in the response device, and receives the information transmitted from the response device. An antenna and means for shielding at least one of the antennas other than the communication surface of the antenna.

According to the present invention, for example, the interrogating device transmits a request for necessary information among the information recorded in the responding device, and receives the information transmitted from the responding device. A coiled antenna, and a shield provided so as to surround a surface other than the communication surface of the antenna,
Means for reducing the distance between the inner wall surface of the shield body and the outer periphery of the coiled antenna from the length of the diameter of the coiled antenna to の 長 of the diameter of the coiled antenna.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a data carrier system and an interrogation device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the data carrier system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining a configuration of an embodiment of a data carrier system.
The data carrier system 1 is composed of the responding device 2 called a non-contact data carrier and the interrogation device 4 connected to the host computer 3 as described above. Information (data) is exchanged between the interrogator 4 and the responder 2 in a non-contact manner. The response device 2 is installed or attached, for example, to various objects depending on the application. The information on the object is stored in a memory as appropriate, and the information instructed by the interrogation device 2 is updated, and the process waits. The object is
It is selected according to the application. For example, in the field of distribution and cards, ID cards and credit cards are used.
In the A field, it is an assembly, a tool, a process, etc.

The communication means includes, for example, an electromagnetic coupling method (magnetism), an electromagnetic induction method (induction electromagnetic field), a microwave (radio wave) method, an optical communication method, and the like. In this embodiment, an electromagnetic induction method is used.

The structure of one interrogator (read / write) 4 is as follows. That is, a main control unit (CPU) 6 that performs overall control of the interrogation device 4 is provided. An interface unit 7 between the main control unit 6 and the host computer 3
Is connected. The interface unit 7 controls input / output of data (information) with the host computer 3 under the control of the main control unit (CPU) 6.

Further, a storage unit 8 is connected to the main control unit 6. The storage unit 8 stores data (information) received from the data carrier 2 or the like.
Writable RAM (Ramdam Access Memory)
).

Further, the main control section 6 converts the transmission information to the response device (data carrier) 2 from a parallel signal to a serial signal, and converts the reception signal from the data carrier 2 from a serial signal to a parallel signal. A signal conversion unit 9 for converting the signal into a signal is connected.

The signal conversion unit 9 converts the transmission signal into, for example, an ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) system or an FSK (Frequency
A modulation unit 10 that modulates the signal into a signal for transmission by an ency shift keying method or the like is connected. Further, a demodulation unit 11 for demodulating a received signal is connected to the signal conversion unit 9.

An output circuit of the modulator 10 is connected to, for example, a transmission antenna 12 for electromagnetic induction in order to communicate with the transponder 2 in a non-contact manner. On the other hand, the demodulation unit 11
The output of the receiving antenna 13 is connected to the input circuit of
An interrogation device 4 is configured. On the other hand, the response device (data carrier) 2 is configured as follows. That is,
A receiving antenna 15 for receiving an electromagnetic wave from the transmitting antenna 12 of the interrogating device 4 is provided. The output circuit of the reception antenna 15 includes a demodulation unit 16 for demodulating the reception signal.
Is connected.

The output of the demodulator 16 is provided to the interrogator 4
A signal conversion unit 17 is connected which converts transmission information to the parallel signal into a serial signal and converts a reception signal from the interrogation device 4 from a serial signal to a parallel signal. The signal control unit 17 is connected to a main control unit 18 that performs overall control in the data carrier 2 and storage and reproduction control of data (information).

The main controller 18 stores data (information), tag information, and the like, for example, an EEPROM (Ele).
ctrical Erasable Programmable Lead Onl
Storage unit 1 that does not require backup of power supply such as y Memory)
9 is connected.

The storage unit 19 stores, for example, a shipping date of a vial barrel, a return date, a container as a barrel part, a handling mechanism,
The date of use of the base and the like, the quality status, etc. are stored as data (information). The stored data (information) is called up by the host computer 3 as needed. This call is a question from the question device 4 and is called from the storage unit 19 of the answering device (data carrier) 2.

The signal converter 17 converts the transmission signal into an AS signal.
A modulating unit 20 for modulating a signal for transmission by the K system, the FSK system, or the like is connected. A transmission antenna 21 for contactlessly communicating with the interrogation device 4 is connected to the modulation unit 20. The response device 2 is configured in this manner.

Next, a communication procedure by the data carrier system 1 will be described.

Monitoring of Data (Information) by Response Device 2 In the interrogation device 4, the main controller 6 receives an instruction from the host computer 3 via the interface 7. The instruction is a request for designation of a response device, desired data, and the like. The instruction information is, for example, a write request to the response device 2 and a read request from the response device 2.

Write Request to Responsive Device The main controller 6 transmits a “write request” to the designated responding device 2. The write data is, for example, data of a vial barrel, and binarizes tag information and information such as a shipping date and a return date of the vial barrel, parts of the barrel such as a container, a handling mechanism, and a base together with the tag information together with the tag information.
At any time.

The stored data is always erased, rewritten, and operated at an appropriate timing according to an instruction from the host computer 3 and the interrogation device 4.

Collection (Reading) of Data from Response Device In the inquiry device 4, the main control unit 6 receives an instruction from the host computer 3 via the interface unit 7. The main control unit 6 reads the data of the designated responding device 2 and sends a transmission request signal (tag information and data inquiry signal).
To the signal converter 9.

The signal converter 9 converts the above-mentioned tag information and data interrogation signal into a serial signal and outputs the serial signal to the modulator 10. The modulation unit 10 modulates a transmission frequency of 100 Hz to several hundred KHz, for example, 125 KHz by an ASK method. Thereafter, the power is amplified and transmitted to the response device 2 via the transmission antenna. The designated responding device 2 located in the receiving area (area) receives this signal with the receiving antenna 15. Demodulation unit 1 receives the received tag information and data interrogation signal
At 6, demodulation is performed by the ASK method.

The signal conversion unit 17 converts the demodulated tag information and data interrogation signal into a parallel signal.
Is output to the main control unit 18. The main control unit 18 stores a storage unit (EEPR) based on the tag information and the data inquiry signal.
OM) 19 is controlled to read and output data stored therein.

The data output from the storage unit 19 is converted into a serial signal by the signal conversion unit 17. The converted data is output to modulation section 20. The modulation unit 20 modulates the power by, for example, a transmission frequency of 125 KHz by the ASK method and amplifies the power for transmission. The amplified data is transmitted to the interrogation device 4 via the transmission antenna 21.

This transmission signal is received by the receiving antenna 13 of the interrogation device 4. Demodulation section 11
Output to The demodulation unit 11 demodulates ASK-modulated data. The demodulated data is output to the signal converter 9.

The signal converter 9 converts data into a serialized signal. The serialized data is stored in a predetermined position of the storage unit 8, for example, the RAM under the control of the main control unit 6. Further, the response is sent to the host computer 3 via the interface unit 7 and stored.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the transmission antenna 12 and the reception antenna 13 of the interrogator 4 are provided exclusively, however, the transmission and reception antennas may be shared and one antenna may be used. Similarly, an example has been described in which the transmission antenna 21 and the reception antenna 15 of the transponder 2 are provided exclusively, but the transmission and reception antennas may be shared and one antenna may be used.

Next, the electromagnetic induction method will be described. This embodiment of the electromagnetic induction system is shown in FIG. That is, communication is performed using an induction electromagnetic field as an information transmission medium by combining loop-shaped coils or air-core coils or a combination of loop-shaped coils and air-core coils.

According to this method, these antennas 12,
15 (FIG. 1) is a communication distance from a distance of about several tens of cm to about 2 m. Transmission frequency is 100 to several hundred K
Hz. This method is not affected by rain, ice, dust, iron powder, magnetism, oil, etc. Further, the directivity of the antenna is gentle and the communication range is wide. The size of the antenna can be designed to any size. It is a system having features such as:

FIG. 2 shows a combination of the latter loop-shaped coil 30 and air-core coil 31. That is, the loop coil 30 is used as the transmitting and receiving antennas 12 and 13 of the interrogation device 4 shown in FIG. This antenna 12,
The shape of 13 is, for example, a square loop shape. On the other hand,
The air core coil 31 is a configuration example used as the transmitting and receiving antennas 15 and 21 of the response device 2 shown in FIG.
The antennas 15 and 21 form a cylindrical coil, and a circuit in which the electronic circuit portion of the transponder 2 is formed as an IC (integrated circuit) is connected to the coil.

That is, in the response device 2, the antenna 1
Except for the circuits 5 and 21, all the circuits shown in FIG. 1 can be integrated. IC chip size is, for example, 2mm x 2m
It can be formed in a size of about m square. Therefore, the antenna 31
Can be mounted as an accessory part. This implementation (Transponder 2
Is a resin mold, for example. This resin, for example, as a preferred resin for exterior, polyimide resin,
A phenol resin, an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, a silicone resin and the like can be mentioned, but other resins can be used as long as conditions such as environmental resistance and mechanical strength are satisfied. If necessary, a filler such as glass fiber, aluminum hydroxide, talc, silica, mica, or the like may be added to the resin.

The response device 2 may be sealed with a resin case material. Preferred resins constituting the case material include polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polystyrene resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, nylon 6, nylon 66,
Modified polyphenylene ether resin, polyphenylene sulfide resin, polyimide resin, liquid crystal polymer, phenol resin, unsaturated polyester resin and the like can be mentioned. FIG. 2 shows only the demodulation unit 16 of the response device 2. Other circuits shown in FIG. 1 are omitted.

On the other hand, the interrogating device 4
0 shows only the modulation unit 10 of FIG. Other Figure 1
The circuit shown in FIG. In the data carrier system having such a configuration, the antenna, for example, the antennas 12 and 13 of the interrogating device 4 are shielded as noise countermeasures.

The interrogator taking measures against the noise will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration of an antenna unit for communication between the interrogating device and the answering device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a relationship between the antenna of FIG. 3 and a shield case.

That is, the read / write antenna 41 of the interrogator (reader / writer) is shielded against noise. This shield is formed so as to surround the antenna 41, for example, a circular loop coil. At least the surface of the antenna 41 in the transmission direction or the reception direction 42, that is, the communication surface 43 is excluded from the surrounding range.

In other words, the answering device 2 and the interrogating device 4
That is, a surface other than the communication region between the two is surrounded by a shielding body 44 made of a magnetic material such as iron. This container 4
The shape of 4 is, for example, a box shape having a U-shaped cross section. This state is shown in FIG. The shape of the container 44 may be any, and may be a shield body 45 configured in a dome shape as shown in FIG. If it is a structure surrounding the antenna 41,
Either may be used.

Further, the performance of the antenna 41 itself may be reduced by the influence of the magnetic material of the shielding plate (shield container) 44. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the distance B between the inner wall surface of the enclosed container 44 and the outermost peripheral surface 45 of the antenna 41 and the distance C between the inner wall surface 48 of the ceiling of the container 44 and the antenna surface 47 are determined. , Is defined as follows.

That is, by selecting the intervals B and C within a length that is 1 (length) to 1/3 of the diameter A of the antenna coil 41, the influence of the magnetic material is relatively small. We found that we could effectively and properly communicate.

By selecting the intervals B and C as described above, the communication performance of the antenna 41 can be prevented from deteriorating, and disturbance of external noise can be reduced. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
3 is a state in which the surface of the shield container 44 substantially coincides with the surface of the open end 46.

However, the antenna 41 may be located in the shield container 44 as long as the above condition is satisfied. In this case, the hood effect of the shield container 44 acts on noise, and the S / N ratio can be improved. In this embodiment, the embodiment in which the intervals B and C are different from each other has been described, but the intervals may be equal.

On the other hand, in communication by the electromagnetic induction system,
Antennas 15 and 21 of responding device (data carrier) 2
Picks up all magnetic fluxes linked to the antennas 15 and 21, for example, the air-core coil 31.

In general, external noise often occurs at a distance farther than the response device (data carrier) 2 to be read / written, for example, from another device. Data carrier 2 above
Assuming that the transmitting and receiving sides of the antenna 2 are on the front side, by providing an electromagnetic shield (shield) on the opposite side (back side) of the antenna 2, noise (noise) can be cut off as in FIG. That is, as described above, the antenna 41 itself may deteriorate in performance due to the influence of the magnetic material of the shield plate (shield container) 44. In this case, the antenna 41
And the distance between the inner surface of the shielding plate 44 and the inner surface of the shielding plate 44 is as follows. That is, if the interval is approximately 1/3 times the length of the antenna coil diameter, it is possible to reduce the disturbance of external noise without lowering the performance of the antenna 41.

This interval is based on the following data. That is, the experimental data obtained by the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the interrogation device 4 and the answering device 2 with a shield plate 44 (shield container) for executing communication with a good S / N ratio. That is, the relationship between the communication distance L1 between the coiled antenna 41 of the interrogation device 4 and the response device 2 and the distance L2 between the shielding plate 44 and the antenna 41 is as shown in FIG.

The diameter of the antenna 41 in this experimental device is 2
80 mm. The communication distance L1 between the coil antenna 41 and the response device 2 is 200 mm or more (200/280 = 7
5%), there is no influence of the shielding plate 44, which is the same as the state without the shielding plate 44 at all. When the distance L2 between the shielding plate 44 and the antenna 41 is reduced, the communication distance L1 is reduced. When the distance L2 is reduced to 90 mm (33%), the distance L1 is reduced to 75%. This distance is a practical range.

Next, the shield effect will be described. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram for explaining an antenna shielding effect on ambient noise in the data character system. FIG. 9 is a characteristic curve diagram showing the shielding effect based on the experimental results of FIG. That is, the noise radiating antenna 51 was installed to obtain quantitative data. The antenna 41 of the interrogation device 4 described with reference to FIG. 4 was installed at a position 1 m away from the antenna 51, for example. The response device 2 was installed at a position at a distance H below the transmission surface (communication surface) 43 of the antenna 41.

FIG. 9 shows the results of evaluating the shielding effect of such equipment. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the characteristic when the antenna 41 is exposed (the state where the shield container 44 is not provided) and faces the noise radiating antenna 51 is a curve A. FIG. 4 shows the antenna 41
In a state shielded by the shield container 44 shown in
The characteristic when the distance H to the response device 2 is 10 cm is a curve B.

Further, when the antenna 41 is shielded by the shield body 44 shown in FIG. 4 and the distance H from the response device 2 approaches 5 cm, the characteristic is a curve C.
FIG. 9 is a characteristic for comparing “error rate (%) with respect to recognition of the response device 2 when data is transmitted from the antenna 41 of the interrogation device 4 to the response device 2” to “electric field intensity of noise (dB μV)”. It is a curve figure.

The following can be understood from the characteristic curve diagram of FIG. First, a curve A without the shield container 44 and a curve B with the shield container 44 installed are compared. When the error rate is set to 1%, the curve A indicates that the noise radiating antenna 5
The noise field strength from 1 is about 30 dBμV. On the other hand, when the shield container 44 shown in FIG. 4 is provided and the distance to the response device 2 is 10 cm, the data is curve B. That is, when the error rate is set to 1%, in the curve B, the noise electric field intensity from the noise radiation antenna 51 is about 43 d.
BμV. That is, a noise reduction effect of about 10 dBμV or more is shown.

Further, when the distance H between the antenna 41 and the transponder 2 is close to 5 cm, the curve C is as shown. That is, when the error rate is set to 1%, in the curve C, the noise electric field intensity from the noise radiation antenna 51 is about 53d.
BμV. An improvement effect of about 20 dBμV is obtained.

That is, from FIG. 9, the noise reduction effect by the shield can be confirmed to be about 10 dBμV or more. further,
It can also be confirmed that by making the distance between the antenna 41 of the interrogation device 4 and the transponder 2 closer, the error rate with respect to noise can be significantly improved.

As an application requiring noise countermeasures, for example, F
Field A is typical. When at least one of the interrogation device and the response device moves as in the application to the FA field with much noise, it is configured by a tunnel-shaped shield as described below. That is, the response device (data carrier) to be read / written, its antenna, and the entire interrogation device are shielded from external noise.

In an automated production line, there is a case where a workpiece is transported by a conveyor belt between processes. An embodiment in which the information communication process is performed by the data carrier system at a predetermined position on the transport line will be described below. FIGS. 10 to 12 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment in which a data carrier system is applied to a line for transporting a workpiece such as a vial barrel by a conveyor belt between processes of an automated production line. FIG. 10 is a top view. FIG. 11 is a side view. FIG. 12 is a front view.

That is, a large number of via barrels 63 are sequentially placed and conveyed on a conveyor belt 62 that moves in the direction of arrow 61 between production steps. FIG. 8 shows only two via barrels 63. The vial barrel 63 is as shown in FIGS. FIG. 13 is a top view of the vial barrel 63. FIG.
Is a side view. That is, a base 83 is screwed into the center of the upper surface 82 of the cylindrical container 81 for storing beer.

An annular handling mechanism 84 is provided at the periphery to prevent the operation of the base 83. One or a plurality of response devices 2 are embedded in the handling mechanism 84. This response device 2 has a configuration in which an IC chip is connected to the air-core coil 31 shown in FIG. This IC chip is an integrated circuit in which all circuits except the antennas 15 and 21 of the response device 2 shown in FIG. This response device 2 is used for all beer barrels 6
3 may be buried, but the sampled vial barrel 63
May be provided. The beer barrel 63 having such a configuration, that is,
The interrogation device 4 is installed at a predetermined position on the transport line of the response device 2. In this embodiment, the antenna 30 of the interrogation device 4 is provided. The antenna 30 is fixed to a column 64. When the answering device 2 is conveyed to the communication area of the antenna 30, predetermined communication is performed with each other.

In this communication, since the FA line includes many other automatic devices and instruments, noise is present more than expected. This noise countermeasure will be described below. That is, the entire communication area between the interrogator and the answering device 2 is
By surrounding it with 5, noise suppression is performed.

The shield container 65 is made of a material, for example, a cold-rolled steel plate, and is coated with rust prevention. In addition, any material may be used as long as it has a shielding effect against electromagnetic waves. In such a shield container 65, a workpiece, that is,
The via barrel 63 is configured to be free to transport. That is, in order to transport the vial barrel 63, the opening 7
1, 73 are provided. This configuration is shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a component diagram for explaining the configuration of the shield container 65. The body of the shield container 65 is a shield wall 67 having a shape, for example, a rectangular cross section, as shown in FIG. The ceiling wall 6 of the shield wall 67
8, a rectangular viewing window 69 is provided. This window 6
Numeral 9 enables maintenance such as failure of the interrogation device 4 and may be any shape such as a circle. Further, a viewing window 70 is also provided on the side wall surface.

The first purpose of this viewing window 70 is to allow the operator to check the facing state between the answering device 2 and the antenna 30 of the interrogation device 4. Further, the second purpose is to enable maintenance such as in the event of a failure. Therefore, the viewing windows 69 and 70 may have a door structure made of a shield material, and may have a structure that can be opened only when used. Furthermore, beer barrel 63
A front wall 72 having an opening window 71 as a transfer path is provided.

Further, a rear wall 74 having an opening window 73 as a transport path of the vial barrel 63 is provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a stopper mechanism 75 for the vial barrel 63 is provided in order to further ensure communication between the interrogating device 4 and the answering device 2. With this mechanism 75, the beer barrel 6
The communication is performed during the period in which the transport of No. 3 is stopped.

Conversely, the via barrel 63 is stopped for the interrogation device 4 and the response device 2 to communicate with each other. Thus, the tunnel type shield container 76 is formed.
Tables 1 and 2 show the noise suppression characteristics of the tunnel-type shielded container 76.

[0080]

[Table 1] Table 1 confirms the effect of the tunnel type shield container 76 by simulating a noise source. Specifically, it is as shown in Table 1. Even when there is no front wall (lid) 72 and rear wall 74 shown in FIG.
Has a noise reduction effect. Further, FIGS. 15A and 15B
(C) When all are formed, there is a noise reduction effect of about 17 db.

The unit of data in Table 1 is dB μV.
Further, the shield container 44 described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 may be further provided in the shield container 76 of FIG. This configuration is shown in FIG. Table 2 shows the shielding effect of this embodiment.

[0082]

[Table 2] In this case, there is a noise reduction effect of about 26 dBμV. The unit of data in this table is dBμV. The transmission frequency in this embodiment is, for example, 125 KH
z. Table 3 shows the shielding effect at this operating frequency.

[0083]

[Table 3]

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the antenna of at least the interrogator of the interrogator and the responder is shielded by the shield body, it is possible to exchange information having a good S / N ratio even in a relatively noisy FA field.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram for explaining a configuration of an embodiment of a data carrier system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining a communication method using electromagnetic induction in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a shield state of the interrogator antenna of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a positional relationship between the shield container and the antenna in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining another embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram for explaining a relationship between a communication distance and a distance between a shield plate and an antenna (interrogation device) in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a characteristic curve diagram for comparing the relationship between the communication distance obtained by the configuration of FIG. 6 and the distance between the shield plate and the antenna (interrogation device).

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram for evaluating characteristics of the shielded container of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a characteristic curve diagram for comparing the error rate with respect to the noise electric field strength based on the evaluation of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a top view for explaining another embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a front view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the vial barrel of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the shield container of FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram for explaining another embodiment of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Data carrier system, 2 ... Response device, 3 ... Host computer 4 ... Interrogation device, 6, 18 ... Main control part, 7 ... Interface part, 8, 19 ... Memory, 9, 17 ... Signal conversion part, 10, 20 ... Modulation unit, 11, 16 demodulation unit, 12, 21 transmission antenna, 13, 15 reception antenna, 30 loop-shaped coil, 31 air core coil, 41 antenna air core coil, 42 transmission direction. (Reception direction), 43: Communication surface, 44, 45: Shielding plate (shield body), 47: Antenna surface, 48: Ceiling inner wall surface, 51: Noise emission run-on, 61: Arrow, 62: Conveyor belt, 63: Via Barrel, 64 ... prop, 65, 90 ... shield container, 67 ... shield wall, 68 ... ceiling wall, 69, 70 ... view window, 71, 73 ... opening window, 72 ... front wall, 74 ... rear window, 75 ... stopper Mechanism: 76: tunnel-type shield container, 82: upper surface, 83: base, 84: handling mechanism,

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Eiichi Kobayashi 5-14-25 Ryoke, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama Toshiba Chemical Co., Ltd. Kawaguchi Plant (72) Inventor Satoshi Fujinaga 1-chome, Moriya-cho, Kitasoma-gun, Ibaraki 1st 21 Asahi Breweries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatero Koike 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5B035 AA11 BA06 BB09 BC04 CA23 5B058 CA17 KA29 YA20 5K012 AA01 AA03 AB03 AC06 AC08 AC10 BA00 BA02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A response device that stores predetermined information, reads out specified information from the stored information, and transmits the information in a non-contact manner, and a request for necessary information among the information stored in the response device. An interrogation device for transmitting the information transmitted from the response device via the antenna and storing the information transmitted from the response device via the antenna, and shielding at least one of the interrogation device and the response device other than the communication surface of the antenna. A data carrier system comprising: 2. A response device that stores predetermined information, reads and transmits specified information from the stored information, and transmits a request for necessary information among information stored in the response device to an antenna. And an interrogator for receiving and recording the information transmitted from the responder via the antenna, provided so as to surround a surface other than the communication surface of at least one of the antennas of the interrogator and the responder. A data carrier system comprising: a shield member made of a magnetic material. 3. A responding device for storing predetermined information, reading and transmitting designated information from the stored information, and transmitting a request for necessary information among information stored in the responding device to an antenna. And an interrogator for receiving and recording the information transmitted from the responder via the antenna, provided so as to surround a surface other than the communication surface of at least one of the antennas of the interrogator and the responder. And a means for setting the distance between the inner wall surface of the shield body and the outer periphery of the antenna from the length of the antenna coil diameter to の 長 of the diameter of the antenna coil. Data carrier system. 4. A response device that stores predetermined information, reads out specified information from the stored information, and transmits the information in a non-contact manner, and a request for necessary information among the information stored in the response device. An interrogation device for transmitting the information transmitted from the response device via the antenna and receiving and storing the information transmitted from the response device via the antenna, and a shield container in which at least the antenna of the interrogation device and the response device are accommodated. A data carrier system characterized by: 5. The data carrier system according to claim 4, wherein said shield container is a tunnel-shaped shield container. 6. An antenna for transmitting a request for necessary information among information stored in a response device and receiving information transmitted from the response device, and a communication surface of at least one of the antennas other than the antenna. Means for shielding the surface of the questionnaire. 7. A coil antenna for transmitting a request for necessary information among information recorded in a response device and receiving information transmitted from the response device, and surrounding a surface other than a communication surface of the antenna. And a means for setting the distance between the inner wall surface of the shield and the outer periphery of the coiled antenna from the length of the diameter of the coiled antenna to １ ／ of the diameter of the coiled antenna. An interrogation device, comprising: